Ex-VP, Ekwueme, others to lose homes to erosion

Except something is done promptly to avert the ugly situation, former Vice President of Nigeria, Dr Alex Ekwueme and at at least 50 other families may soon lose their homes to erosion.

The gully erosion that have ravaged communities in Anambra State have dealt a heavy blow on the sleepy community of Okoh in Orumba North Local Government Area, sacking residents and destroying buildings.

When The Nation visited the community yesterday, four buildings have caved in to the erosion while other buildings are hanging on the fringes of the Oko-Nanka gully erosion.

We observed that one of the erosion sites in Oko is less than 300 metres away from the families of Dr. Ekwueme and his younger brother, the monarch of Oko town, Igwe Laz Ekwueme.

The Ekwueme family was about concluding their fasting and prayer session which had lasted for days in a bid to seek divine protection from the gully erosion.

However over 50 families had already fled from Oko to a neighbouring communities of Amaokpala, Awgbu and Ndikenonwu for safety.

At the gully erosion site yesterday, scores of victims stood motionless.

The victims were discussing their future, while many others where busy evacuating their personal belongings.

Speaking with reporters at his palace in Oko, Igwe Laz Ekwueme said, “As you can see, the homes of people who are already evacuated have already been taken over by the new erosion and it has started encroaching on other houses, including the two Ekwueme houses there”.

He added, “I had severally appealed to his Excellency Governor Peter Obi.

Recently, I sent him another S.O.S and in a public function two days ago, he confirmed it and told me that he would try and do something before or during this yuletide season and we are hoping on God and man that something would be done fast. We are really threatened and it is not a happy Christmas for the people of Oko Community,” Ekwueme said

The chairman of Ezi-Oko village sir Clement Udoye also lamented the development.